Department for Transport

*No heading*

baroness randerson: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to encourage the introduction of charges in Clean Air Zones, with a view to discouraging the use of diesel cars in those zones.

lord callanan: The Clean Air Zone Framework, published on 5 May 2017, sets out the principles local authorities should follow when setting up Clean Air Zones in England. The Government’s consultation on the draft Air Quality Plan set out that charging zones should only be used where local authorities are unable to identify equally effective alternatives. It is for local authorities to develop local proposals likely to achieve the air quality limits within the shortest possible time, taking into consideration the effects and impacts on local residents and businesses. The Government’s consultation closed on 15 June and responses to the consultation are currently being considered. The final Plan will be published by 31 July.

*No heading*

baroness randerson: Her Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the potential impact of a diesel scrappage scheme on reducing levels of outdoor air pollution.

lord callanan: In May, the Government published a consultation on the draft UK Air Quality Plan for tackling nitrogen dioxide. The consultation includes proposals for Clean Air Zones - designated geographical areas that provide a focus in some towns and cities to improve air quality by permitting vehicle access on the basis of emission standards. A range of potential measures were identified in the consultation including the introduction of a scrappage scheme. We are considering responses to the consultation. The final plan is due to be published by the 31 July 2017.

*No heading*

lord patten: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Callanan on 28 June (HL8), on what basis Network Rail has decided that the scheme to double the track between Tisbury and Wilton Junction is not a priority.

lord callanan: Network Rail’s Wessex Route Study, published in August 2015, concluded that the forecast levels of growth between Salisbury and Exeter did not justify the need for addition sections of double track along the route in the period up to 2024.

Department for Communities and Local Government

*No heading*

lord kennedy of southwark: Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to review section 10 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, to include fire safety in the list of factors which determine whether a house is unfit for human habitation.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: All homes should be of a reasonable standard and all tenants should have a safe place to live. Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, landlords have an obligation to ensure that they keep in repair the structure and exterior of any property they rent out.Local authorities have strong powers to deal with poor quality, unsafe accommodation and we expect them to use those powers. Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, local authorities can issue an Improvement Notice or a Hazard Awareness Notice if they find a defect in the property. Failure to comply with an Improvement Notice is a criminal offence for which local authorities can impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 or prosecute in the courts which have the power to impose an unlimited fine. In extreme circumstances, the local authority may decide to make repairs themselves, or to prohibit that property from being rented out.The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a duty on housing providers to undertake a fire risk assessment of the common parts of their properties and to put in place and maintain adequate fire precautions to manage the risk that lives could be lost in a fire. The Order is enforced by fire and rescue authorities. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Fire Safety Order may to lead to prosecution and potentially a significant fine or custodial sentence.

*No heading*

lord kennedy of southwark: Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the Housing Act 2004 housing health and safety rating system, in particular the hazards classified under category 1 (damp and mould growth) and category 2 (excess cold).

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is kept under regular review. We have been clear that lessons will be learned from the Grenfell fire, and any issues for the HHSRS will be taken into account.The HHSRS is a risk assessment process which involves a local authority assessing 29 categories of potential housing hazards in a dwelling, such as damp, excess cold and electrical faults. Where a property contains potentially serious risks to the health and safety of the occupants, the local authority must take appropriate action requiring the building owner to reduce or remove the risk. This will frequently involve service of an Improvement Notice. Failure to comply with an Improvement Notice is a criminal offence for which local authorities can impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000 or prosecute in the courts which have the power to impose an unlimited fine. In extreme circumstances, the local authority may decide to make repairs themselves, or to prohibit the property from being rented out.

*No heading*

lord beecham: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cumulative effects of the one per cent reductions in social housing rents instituted under the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: I refer the noble Lord to my previous answers to him on 27 March (PQ HL6120) and 28 March (PQ HL6379).

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

*No heading*

lord myners: Her Majesty's Government whether they regard the technology and payments company Worldpay to be a strategic national asset, and whether it intends to intervene to order a review of the proposed takeover of the company by a non–British purchaser.

lord prior of brampton: Under the Enterprise Act 2002, Ministers have powers to intervene in mergers which raise public interest concerns in relation to national security, financial stability and media plurality. If the Government decides that there are grounds for intervention and that it should exercise its powers under the Enterprise Act in this case, it will make an announcement.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

*No heading*

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the government of North Korea's claim to have tested a long-range intercontinental missile.

baroness goldie: ​North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on 4 July is a clear violation of numerous Security Council resolutions. It is yet another reminder of the grave danger that North Korea poses. As a consequence on 5 July, the North Korean Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The UN Security Council met to condemn the test. We will work with partners on further measures to address the threat to international peace and security posed by North Korea's destabilising and provocative conduct.

*No heading*

the lord bishop of coventry: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the government of Tajikistan’s commitment to freedom of religion of belief following the decision by the State Committee for Religious Affairs to ban anyone under the age of 40 from participating in the August Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

baroness goldie: The restrictions on freedom of religion in Tajikistan are a growing concern and indicative of Tajikistan's heavy-handed approach to countering extremism. Our Embassy in Dushanbe raises concerns over human rights issues both bilaterally and in collaboration with the EU and like-minded partners​.

Department for Exiting the European Union

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is the gender composition of the team negotiating Brexit; and what is the level of seniority of women in that team.

baroness anelay of st johns: The Department for Exiting the European Union has released information on the UK's negotiating team which is publicly available on www.gov.uk/government/publications/biographies-of-the-civil-service-representatives-for-the-negotiations-with-the-eu.This outlines the core negotiating team however departments are also building up their capacity in their own areas of responsibility and DExEU will be working closely with every Government department to ensure that the full range of opportunities are taken and risks mitigated across every area of Government policy. DExEU is drawing together expertise from a wide range of departments where there is specific relevant knowledge. 



UK Negotiating Team Biographies
(PDF Document, 1.23 MB)

*No heading*

lord adonis: Her Majesty's Government how many staff were employed by, or seconded to, the Department for Exiting the European Union on 1 July.

baroness anelay of st johns: The Department is recruiting the brightest and the best from across the civil service, the wider public sector and the private sector. The Department for Exiting the European Union now has over 450 staff, and is growing fast. We are not in a position to give a final total for particular groups of staff as recruitment is ongoing and numbers are regularly changing.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

RAF Northolt

baroness byford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the safety standards for refrigeration units and tumble dryers in the light of the number of fires caused by such machines in individual homes.

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government what is the intended increase in flight capacity at RAF Northolt for each year for the next five years.

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government whether there is to be an increase in flights from 3,810 military flights in 2016 to 10,610 commercial civil flights at RAF Northolt; and what assessment they have made of changing the status of the airport from military to civil.

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government what is the intended increase in flight capacity at RAF Northolt for each year for the next five years.

earl howe: There are no plans to change the status of RAF Northolt from a military airbase to a civilian airport. RAF Northolt has for many years accepted business aviation flights but these remain capped at 12,000 movements per year and there are no plans to raise that cap. There is no cap on military movements, which will fluctuate in line with military requirements.

Department for International Development

Pupils: Mental Health

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the UK funding available to support refugee children in state schools in Jordan and Lebanon can also be made available to voluntary organisations for the same purpose.

lord cotter: Her Majesty's Government what actionthey are planningto deal with issues around mental health in schools.

lord cotter: Her Majesty's Government what actionthey are takingto ensure that each school in the UK employs amember of staff with specific experienceto address mental health issues.

lord cotter: Her Majesty's Government what actionthey are planningto deal with issues around mental health in schools.

lord nash: Good mental health is a priority for the Department. It can have a profound impact on the whole of a child’s life, not just their attainment. Schools have an important role to play, but teachers are not mental health professionals. They need support from specialist services, which is why we are investing an additional £1.4 billion in children and young people’s mental health services to 2020. The Prime Minister announced earlier in the year that a member of staff in every secondary school in the country would be offered mental health first aid training. This training has now begun. It will equip those undertaking the training with the knowledge needed to identify and make an initial response to mental health concerns, which they can share with colleagues. The Prime Minister also announced a number of pilots to develop practice and evidence about what works in promoting good mental wellbeing, putting peer support schemes in place and developing joint working with specialist mental health services. We are procuring organisations to run these projects and will announce the results as soon as possible. We have published a blueprint for school counselling services, which provides schools with advice on delivering high quality counselling to all pupils. We have funded the development of MindEd, a free online resource which allows all those working with children and young people to access training and information on a range of mental health issues.The Department has also issued advice on behaviour and mental health providing teachers with information and tools to identify pupils who need help, and to provide effective and early support. We will be considering with the Department of Health how best to build on this work. We will include proposals in a joint children and young people’s mental health green paper, to be published by the end of the year.

*No heading*

lord judd: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of findings published by CAFOD in its report UK support for energy in developing countries that between 2009 and 2013 43 per cent of UK spending in the energy sector in developing countries was focussed on fossil fuels and 19 per cent on renewable forms of energy, whether they are planning to seek to reverse those proportions; and if so, what action they are taking to achieve that objective.

lord bates: Between 2011 and 2016, UK Aid provided 12 million people with improved access to clean energy and installed more than 400 MW of clean energy capacity.The percentages cited in the CAFOD report draw on several sources and appear to include a wide range of funding, including funding which is not classified as Official Development Assistance.The UK government has committed £5.8bn over the April 2016 and March 2021 period for tackling climate change overseas. This commitment will continue to drive support for developing countries to move to low-carbon economies including renewable energy, as well as building their resilience and helping them to manage their natural resources more effectively.The DFID bilateral programme will not support new coal plants or new investments in existing coal-fired power plants. We will only consider supporting proposals for multilateral development banks to finance coal-fired power plants in the world’s poorest countries where no other economically feasible alternative exists, the investment is part of a credible low emission development strategy and where there is a clear poverty reduction case.

*No heading*

baroness tonge: Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of living conditions in the Gaza strip; and whether they are planningto send a team to investigate and report back.

lord bates: The UK Government is concerned at the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Urgent improvements in infrastructure, employment, energy and water are essential to improve living conditions. The UK is closely monitoring the situation, including participating in a joint mission with the UN to Gaza on the 10th July. We urge the parties to find a sustainable solution to the current energy crisis that alleviates the suffering of the Gazan people. In Gaza, UK support includes funding for basic service delivery through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, support for humanitarian access and Gaza’s reconstruction, and economic development programming to help create jobs.

*No heading*

the lord bishop of southwark: Her Majesty's Government whatestimate they have made of the number of Iraqis that have fled Daesh in Iraq who are now refugees in countries bordering Syria.

lord bates: As of July, the UN estimates that 257,476 Iraqi refugees who have fled Daesh are hosted in countries in the region such as Turkey and Jordan. Most people who have fled Daesh in Iraq are internally displaced; currently over 3 million Iraqis are internally displaced within Iraq.

*No heading*

the lord bishop of southwark: Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any representations to the UNHCR concerning that agency's understanding of vulnerability, with a view to redefiningthat definitionto include religion as one of the criteria used to identify those refugees most in need of assistance.

lord bates: Our humanitarian aid operates under International Humanitarian Law and is provided based on need. As such it is available to people of all faiths and of none. All our partners carry out comprehensive vulnerability assessments to ensure aid is reaching those most in need, including those from religious minorities as it is already recognised that religion may be a factor in causing vulnerability. DFID and UK missions overseas have regular conversations with UNHCR on these matters.

Department for Education

*No heading*

lord adonis: Her Majesty's Government what advice they, or their agencies, give to universities on the appropriate fee level to set in respect of undergraduate courses.

viscount younger of leckie: Fees for English domiciled undergraduate students studying at Higher Education Institutions that are funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) are subject to maximum fees, which are set in legislation. HEFCE funded institutions that have an access agreement in place for widening participation with the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) can charge a higher fee than those that do not. In addition, HEFCE funded institutions that have demonstrated high quality teaching by achieving a Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) rating can charge up to a higher fee than those that do not.

*No heading*

lord bradley: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of theimpact of the new school funding formulafor each school in the city of Manchester.

lord nash: We want to ensure every school has the resources it needs to deliver a high quality education for every child and that all schools are fairly funded. We received over 25,000 responses to the consultation. We are grateful to all those who expressed their views on school funding and the proposed formula as part of this process. We will publish the response to the consultation in due course.

*No heading*

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government whether the Government Equalities Office’s Body Confidence Campaign has undertaken any activities since its 2015 progress report; and whether any future activities are planned.

lord nash: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) continues to address the important issue of body image as part of its work to support young people’s media literacy, resilience, healthy relationships and healthy self-image. In 2015, the GEO funded the PSHE Association to develop key standards on teaching about body image in schools, and this resource has been used and valued by many teachers. It has been updated and is still available on the PSHE Association website.The GEO also funded Media Smart, the advertising industry’s educational charity, to develop film-based resources for pupils in Key Stage 2 on the issue of body image in advertising. This resource was launched in 2016 and continues to be used and valued within schools.The GEO has also addressed concerns about the very low weight of some fashion models. The previous Minister for Women and Equalities, Caroline Dinenage, hosted a roundtable for fashion models to hear their experience and concerns, and met with the British Fashion Council (BFC) to discuss what could be done to support models’ health and wellbeing. As a consequence, the BFC developed improved advice for models and agencies which is available on its website. The BFC also runs The Model Zone as a part of London Fashion Week, to support models’ wellbeing.

*No heading*

lord cotter: Her Majesty's Government what actionthey are takingto ensure that each school in the UK employs amember of staff with specific experienceto address mental health issues.

lord cotter: Her Majesty's Government what actionthey are takingto ensure that each school in the UK employs amember of staff with specific experienceto address mental health issues.

lord cotter: Her Majesty's Government what actionthey are planningto deal with issues around mental health in schools.

lord cotter: Her Majesty's Government what actionthey are planningto deal with issues around mental health in schools.

lord nash: Good mental health is a priority for the Department. It can have a profound impact on the whole of a child’s life, not just their attainment. Schools have an important role to play, but teachers are not mental health professionals. They need support from specialist services, which is why we are investing an additional £1.4 billion in children and young people’s mental health services to 2020. The Prime Minister announced earlier in the year that a member of staff in every secondary school in the country would be offered mental health first aid training. This training has now begun. It will equip those undertaking the training with the knowledge needed to identify and make an initial response to mental health concerns, which they can share with colleagues. The Prime Minister also announced a number of pilots to develop practice and evidence about what works in promoting good mental wellbeing, putting peer support schemes in place and developing joint working with specialist mental health services. We are procuring organisations to run these projects and will announce the results as soon as possible. We have published a blueprint for school counselling services, which provides schools with advice on delivering high quality counselling to all pupils. We have funded the development of MindEd, a free online resource which allows all those working with children and young people to access training and information on a range of mental health issues.The Department has also issued advice on behaviour and mental health providing teachers with information and tools to identify pupils who need help, and to provide effective and early support. We will be considering with the Department of Health how best to build on this work. We will include proposals in a joint children and young people’s mental health green paper, to be published by the end of the year.

*No heading*

lord kirkhope of harrogate: Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to preserve, maintain and develop free schools

lord nash: This Government wants to create a country that works for everyone and education is at the heart of that ambition. As a result of our reforms, there are 1.8 million more children in good or outstanding schools than in 2010 and free schools have played an important part in that success.Since 2010, we have opened more than 400 new free schools, which will provide over 234,000 places when at capacity. A further 350 free schools have been approved to open in the next few years, with around 50 opening this September.29 per cent of free schools inspected by Ofsted have been rated outstanding. We will build on this success by continuing to approve new free schools in areas where there is a clear need for more good school places.

Ministry of Justice

*No heading*

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government during the last 12 months, how many prisoners sentenced toan indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection were (1) offered places on a training course which could lead to their release, (2) were released following completion of such training courses, and(3) refused to take up a place or dropped out of such courses; and how those figures compare with those for the preceding 12 month period.

lord keen of elie: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost as central records are not kept for all aspects of the management of prisoners sentenced to an indeterminate sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP). HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Parole Board will continue to work together to improve the progression of IPP prisoners. This group continue to achieve release in high numbers, with 576 first time IPP releases in 2016, the highest figure since the sentence was introduced. HMPPS will continue to invest in interventions to assist prisoners to both reduce their risk and demonstrate such progression to the Parole Board. However, it is important to remember that it is not mandatory for IPPs to complete accredited offending behaviour programmes in order to achieve release. Completing an accredited offending behaviour programme is one way in which IPP prisoners may demonstrate that they have reduced their risk of harm and reoffending; other options may include work and employment, education and one to one work with psychologists or prison offender supervisors.

Ministry of Defence

*No heading*

lord judd: Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to strengthen UN peacekeeping, including support for the rapid response capacity; and what role they envisage for the Royal Marines and SAS in this respect.

earl howe: The UK is providing a leading voice on strengthening UN peacekeeping including through its permanent seat in the UN Security Council. In September 2016, we hosted the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in London, with 74 nations and international organisations, and launched the UN reform agenda based on the '3Ps': better mission planning, increasing the number of meaningful pledges of troops and equipment, and improving the performance on the ground. It was a major peacekeeping conference, which secured 30 new pledges of troops and equipment, including for rapid response, and a reform-focused communiqué signed by 63 countries. The UK continues to drive forward this reform agenda with senior UN officials, Member States, and the UN Security Council. We are working closely with the Canadian hosts of the 2017 Defence Ministerial, which will maintain a focus on strengthening UN peacekeeping through reform, matching UN capability needs with pledges, innovation in training, protecting the vulnerable, and improved early warning mechanisms. The UK also seeks to strengthen UN peacekeeping through deploying our own troops on UN peacekeeping missions, and by using our operational experience to inform UN reform policy discussions in New York.

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Defence Agency.

earl howe: The European Defence Agency (EDA) has a key role in facilitating European cooperation on capability development in support of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy. EDA membership requires a financial contribution towards the Agency's budget; this currently amounts to £3.9 million for the UK. The UK benefits from EDA work through involvement in a range of projects and initiatives, and UK industry has access to EU opportunities and funding, especially in the area of research and technology.

*No heading*

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any assessment of (1) the environmental impact, and (2) the impact on noise pollution of, raising of the cap on flights each year at RAF Northolt from 7,000 to 12,000.

earl howe: As the increase in the self-imposed ceiling for the number of civilian aircraft movements remained within NATS Holdings' (formerly National Air Traffic Services) limits of 40 commercial movements per day, no new noise or pollution survey has been conducted.

*No heading*

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government whether there is to be an increase in flights from 3,810 military flights in 2016 to 10,610 commercial civil flights at RAF Northolt; and what assessment they have made of changing the status of the airport from military to civil.

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government whether there is to be an increase in flights from 3,810 military flights in 2016 to 10,610 commercial civil flights at RAF Northolt; and what assessment they have made of changing the status of the airport from military to civil.

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government what is the intended increase in flight capacity at RAF Northolt for each year for the next five years.

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government what is the intended increase in flight capacity at RAF Northolt for each year for the next five years.

earl howe: There are no plans to change the status of RAF Northolt from a military airbase to a civilian airport. RAF Northolt has for many years accepted business aviation flights but these remain capped at 12,000 movements per year and there are no plans to raise that cap. There is no cap on military movements, which will fluctuate in line with military requirements.

*No heading*

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government what response they have given to regional airlines, such as Flybe, which have been lobbying for RAF Northolt to be opened up to scheduled commercial flights.

earl howe: The Department is content to consider requests from commercial operators to use RAF Northolt for Business Aviation flights within the annual 12,000 civilian movements cap. However, it will not consider opening the Station to scheduled commercial flights.

*No heading*

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government whether their procedure for changing the flight capacity, commencing building works or runway renovations at RAF Northolt involves consulting local residents who would be affected; and what form the consultation has taken so far.

earl howe: There are no plans to change the flight capacity at RAF Northolt. However, there will be routine work to resurface the runway and upgrade safety equipment in 2018. The Department continues to liaise with the Local Council and other stakeholders regarding this work, in relation to the mandatory construction site requirements the project will entail such as workplace safety, environmental protection measures and traffic regulation orders.

*No heading*

baroness jones of whitchurch: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusions of the 2013 interim Davies Commission report with regard to RAF Northolt, which did not include significantly increased use of Northolt in its short and medium-term recommendations.

earl howe: The Department cooperated fully with the Davies Commission and it will work closely with NATS Holdings (formerly National Air Traffic Services) and the Civil Aviation Authority, over the airspace changes that a third London runway would require, in order to protect RAF Northolt's vital military aviation needs.

Department for Work and Pensions

*No heading*

baroness altmann: Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of introducing a double lock on Pension Credit uprating from 2018–19 onwards, uprating pensions by the highest of the consumer price index or earnings inflation, (1) over the course of this Parliament, (2) over the next 10 years, and (3) up to 2050.

baroness buscombe: No estimate of the cost of introducing a double lock on Pension Credit uprating has been made. The legislative requirement is that the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit should increase at least in line with earnings.

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

baroness buscombe: The Agency collects and shares good practice information on national and European Union priorities for safety and health at work, working with national contact points in all Member States. Its activities are particularly valuable to recent and proposed EU entrants and those with less well developed health and safety systems. The European Court of Auditors publishes annual reports on the accounts of the Agency that are automatically deposited with Parliament for scrutiny purposes. For the latest report (financial position as of 31 December 2015), the budget was €16.9 million and the auditors stated that the Agency’s accounts were reliable and transactions were legal and regular. Our relationship with the European Union's decentralised bodies upon exit, including the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, will be evaluated in light of delivering the twelve objectives outlined by the Prime Minister to achieve a deep and special positive and constructive partnership between the UK and the European Union.

*No heading*

lord pendry: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to support boxers and footballers with dementia pugilistica who currently rely on financial assistance from various charities.

baroness buscombe: The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council’s (IIAC) 2005 review of Dementia in boxers and footballers concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend an addition to the list of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (available to employed earners) prescribed diseases. In 2014 IIAC sought high quality research evidence about the risks of neurodegenerative diseases in professional sportspersons. The IIAC response in May 2016 concluded that despite the passage of time, epidemiological evidence on risk of dementia pugilistica in boxers relative to other workers remains elusive, and that there was no new important evidence to change the previous appraisal of prescription in respect of soccer players. As in 2005, there remains insufficient evidence to indicate a more than doubled risk of a dementia in boxers. IIAC has no plans at present to revisit this, but would likely reconsider should new evidence emerge. However the department provides a range of benefits to support with extra costs of disability, which individuals may be entitled to depending on their circumstances.

*No heading*

the countess of mar: Her Majesty's Government whether the Health and Safety Executive will send a representative to the International Aircraft Cabin Air Conference at Imperial College, London in September; and if not, why not.

baroness buscombe: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will not be attending the International Aircraft Cabin Air Conference at Imperial College, London in September 2017. HSE works with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to regulate health and safety at work in the aviation industry. This operates through a memorandum of understanding and associated guidance document CAP 1484 (see documents attached).CAP 1484 states that by agreement CAA regulates health and safety on board aircraft and advises on the health implications of exposure to hazardous substances on crew and passengers. CAA is the most appropriate regulatory attendee and HSE will seek information and updates on such issues through its regular contacts with CAA.



Associated Guidance Document CAP 1484
(PDF Document, 461.59 KB)




HSE CAA Memorandum of Understanding
(PDF Document, 200.35 KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Environment Agency.

lord gardiner of kimble: Within the European Environment Agency budget[1] it is not possible to identify the membership cost for any individual EU Member State. The European Environment Agency undergoes regular independently-conducted evaluations[2] and the UK Government is fully engaged with the evaluation currently in progress[3]. When published in 2018, this evaluation will enhance our understanding of the benefits of European Environment Agency membership. In common with other EU agencies, as part of exit negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU (and European Environment Agency Member Countries) any potential future relationship with the European Environment Agency. [1] https://www.eea.europa.eu/about-us/documents/eea-budgets/budget-of-the-eea-2017[2] https://www.eea.europa.eu/about-us/governance/eea-evaluations/eea-evaluation-2013[3] http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/roadmaps/docs/2018_env_002_eea_evaluation_en.pdf

*No heading*

lord storey: Her Majesty's Government how many Fishery Protection ships are patrolling UK waters at any one time; and what is the total number in the squadron.

lord gardiner of kimble: We are unable to confirm the position at a UK level as fisheries protection is a devolved matter. However, the Royal Navy Fishery Protection Squadron comprises of 3 offshore patrol vessels of which one is currently tasked to meet the contractual commitment to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for the purposes of fisheries enforcement in England. The number of RN Offshore Patrol Vessels reflects the adoption of a risk based, intelligence led operational model that enables targeted enforcement interventions in the right place at the right time. The requirement for all vessels over 12 metres in length to be fitted with the satellite tracking devices (Vessel Monitoring System) gives a real time picture of where fishing activity is happening enabling the efficient employment of patrol vessels. This information is monitored at the MMO control room in Newcastle. In addition, when the RN Offshore Patrol Vessels are at sea but conducting other tasks they are still able to provide a presence which has a deterrent effect. This is supplemented by joint working with other agencies such as Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities (IFCAs), UK Border Force (UKBF) and the Police to ensure effective and timely intervention where illegal activity is suspected. Radar sweeps can be used by patrol vessels to identify potential targets and the AIS (Automatic Identification System) is also used in fisheries enforcement to detect fishing activity, including where fishing vessels are operating.

*No heading*

lord taylor of warwick: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits, costs andrisks of instituting an exclusive economic zone around the UK.

lord gardiner of kimble: When the UK leaves the EU it will automatically become an independent coastal state. It will have rights to manage access to its waters and to work with other Coastal States, including the EU, to manage shared stocks and agree shares of fishing opportunities. The UK is already responsible for fisheries enforcement matters within its Exclusive Economic Zone.

*No heading*

lord framlingham: Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage and support the planting of, and care for, trees in our towns and cities, given the role played by urban trees in controlling air pollution.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Government intends for one million more trees to be planted in our towns and cities and to place new duties on councils to consult when they wish to cut down street trees. There is evidence that healthy, well-chosen and well-placed urban and peri-urban trees and woodlands can have a small, but beneficial impact on urban air quality. The Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) is considering further the evidence around the potential of trees to contribute to improvements in air quality to inform our further policy development. The AQEG is an Expert Committee to Defra that provides independent scientific advice on air quality.

*No heading*

marquess of lothian: Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to preventthe curlewfrom becoming extinct since that birdwasadded tothe Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red list for Birds, in December 2015.

lord gardiner of kimble: The UK network of 270 classified special protection areas, covering approximately 2.8 million hectares of key habitats, protects many rare, threatened and vulnerable birds including curlews. The Government’s agri-environment schemes have been designed to encourage habitat management including for curlew conservation in targeted areas, to provide suitable nesting and foraging conditions. Natural England is working with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on a recovery programme aimed at providing a coordinated approach to the management of curlew habitats, including predator control to increase breeding numbers. This forms part of an international action plan to address the ‘near threatened’ status of the curlew, which the UK will support in our role as signatory of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement.

*No heading*

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of their decision unilaterally to withdraw from the London Fisheries Convention, what assessment they have made of the risk that other EU member states may seek to restrict fishing by British vessels in their waters post-Brexit.

lord gardiner of kimble: The UK has notified its intention to withdraw from the London Fisheries Convention ensuring the UK will control access to the 6-12 mile zone of UK waters after we leave the EU. In 2015, EU vessels caught an estimated 10,000 tonnes of fish, worth around £17 million in the 6-12 mile zone of UK waters. In comparison, UK fishermen caught an estimated 730 tonnes of fish, worth around £1 million in the 6-12 mile zone of other Member States.

*No heading*

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of their decision unilaterally to withdraw from the London Fisheries Convention, what is their negotiating position on the right of other states to fish in UK waters post–Brexit.

lord gardiner of kimble: When the UK leaves the EU it will automatically become an independent state and will be able to control and manage access to UK waters in accordance with international law. We will have taken back control of our waters and be in a position to negotiate access with other countries in the interests of the UK and our fishing industry.

Home Office

Teodorin Obiang

baroness kinnock of holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each local authority in England and Wales, what is the total number of Eritrean residents who have been listed on successful asylum applications by individuals seeking reunification with close family members in the UK.

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make early and extensive use of the new Unexplained Wealth Orders, in the light of the Obiang case in France in which the Vice-President of Equatorial Guineas is alleged to have committed embezzlement, corruption and extortion in that state.

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the investigation being conducted under the French judicial system that has identified 200 million euros worth of assets held in France belonging to Teodorin Obiang, the Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea,and allegedly acquired with embezzled funds; and what steps, if any, they are taking to ascertain whether Mr Obiang holdsany suchassets in the UK.

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government what support they have offered to the French authorities in their action against Teodorin Obiang, Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea, in relation to allegations of embezzlement, corruption and extortion in that state.

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make early and extensive use of the new Unexplained Wealth Orders, in the light of the Obiang case in France in which the Vice-President of Equatorial Guineas is alleged to have committed embezzlement, corruption and extortion in that state.

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the investigation being conducted under the French judicial system that has identified 200 million euros worth of assets held in France belonging to Teodorin Obiang, the Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea,and allegedly acquired with embezzled funds; and what steps, if any, they are taking to ascertain whether Mr Obiang holdsany suchassets in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: It is government policy to neither confirm nor deny the existence of a mutual legal assistance request. The UWO provisions in the Criminal Finances Act 2017 are not yet commenced. When commenced, we expect that operational agencies will consider their use in appropriate cases when investigating the assets of individuals held in the UK.

*No heading*

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government what support they have offered to the French authorities in their action against Teodorin Obiang, Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea, in relation to allegations of embezzlement, corruption and extortion in that state.

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government what support they have offered to the French authorities in their action against Teodorin Obiang, Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea, in relation to allegations of embezzlement, corruption and extortion in that state.

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make early and extensive use of the new Unexplained Wealth Orders, in the light of the Obiang case in France in which the Vice-President of Equatorial Guineas is alleged to have committed embezzlement, corruption and extortion in that state.

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the investigation being conducted under the French judicial system that has identified 200 million euros worth of assets held in France belonging to Teodorin Obiang, the Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea,and allegedly acquired with embezzled funds; and what steps, if any, they are taking to ascertain whether Mr Obiang holdsany suchassets in the UK.

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make early and extensive use of the new Unexplained Wealth Orders, in the light of the Obiang case in France in which the Vice-President of Equatorial Guineas is alleged to have committed embezzlement, corruption and extortion in that state.

lord chidgey: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the investigation being conducted under the French judicial system that has identified 200 million euros worth of assets held in France belonging to Teodorin Obiang, the Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea,and allegedly acquired with embezzled funds; and what steps, if any, they are taking to ascertain whether Mr Obiang holdsany suchassets in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: It is government policy to neither confirm nor deny the existence of a mutual legal assistance request. The UWO provisions in the Criminal Finances Act 2017 are not yet commenced. When commenced, we expect that operational agencies will consider their use in appropriate cases when investigating the assets of individuals held in the UK.

*No heading*

baroness henig: Her Majesty's Government when will the triennial Review of the Security Industry Authority, carried out by Tony Regan and launched on 14 July 2015, and its recommendations, be published.

baroness williams of trafford: A review of the Security Industry Authority was announced on 14 July 2015 and carried out in 2016. The review report will be laid before Parliament in due course.

*No heading*

lord kennedy of southwark: Her Majesty's Government what action have they taken since the fire at Grenfell Tower to ensure that landlords who have obligations under Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 are meeting those obligations.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office has worked closely with the Department of Communities and Local Government and information and advice to landlords on fire safety is available on the DCLG GOV.UK webpage. This includes details of the establishment of an expert advisory panel, chaired by Sir Ken Knight, to provide independent advice to the Secretary of State on any immediate measures that may need to put in place to make their buildings safe for residents following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower. The National Fire Chiefs Council is represented on this Panel.

*No heading*

lord blencathra: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of (1) the clearing of Leigh Day and three of its solicitors of all allegations of professional misconduct, and (2) reports of further allegations by a whistle-blower against that firm, concerning claims by Iraqi civilians of abuse by British troops, whether they intend to refer that firm to the National Crime Agency for investigation of any possible criminal conduct.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government is aware of the recent media allegations of misconduct by an apparent whistle-blower, but consider it premature to refer the matter to the National Crime Agency. As the NCA would likely investigate only if these allegations have not been examined by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, the Government will need to await publication of the Tribunal’s full, reasoned decision before deciding whether it is appropriate to refer the matter to the NCA.

*No heading*

baroness uddin: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of figures released by the MPS showing an increase in the number of acid attacks in London from 261 in 2015 to 454 in 2016, what action they are taking to ensure public safety.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government is very concerned about the use of acid and other corrosives in violent attacks. The Government and the National Police Chiefs’ Council jointly hosted a meeting on 4 July with medical experts, police officers, retailers, and officials from a number of Government departments and agencies to share understanding about the nature of such attacks and discussed action being taken by the respective agencies. We are currently considering what further action can be taken to ensure public safety.

*No heading*

baroness helic: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement byBaroness Williams of Trafford on extremism (HLWS40), with how many countries the UK will be raising specific evidence-based concerns regarding funding originating in those countries being supplied to Islamic organisations in the UK; and what action they will be seeking from the governments of those countries.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government laid a Written Ministerial Statement in both Houses on Wednesday 12 July, which conveyed the main findings of the Government’s review into the funding for Islamist extremist activity in the UK. The single most important finding was that the most significant source of funding for Islamist extremism in the UK is small, private donations from UK-based individuals. Often these individuals do not appreciate the extremist credentials of those they are donating to. The Government’s response prioritises tackling the domestic sources of extremism but the Government is committed to tackling all sources, including from overseas. The Government will continue to work with its international partners to combat extremism and where necessary will raise issues of concern in our bilateral relationships. The Charity Commission will be introducing a requirement on charities to declare overseas sources of funding to increase transparency in this area. The Government’s Counter-Extremism Strategy sets out its commitment to tackling extremism in all its forms, including engaging internationally to support our efforts to defeat extremism in the UK. This includes countering the flow of extremism to the UK, whether money, people or ideology; building international partnerships with all those opposed to extremism; and disrupting extremists from entering the UK. The Government engages with a wide range of international partners on extremism issues, including through the United Nation’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism and the United Nation’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

HM Treasury

Cabinet Office

*No heading*

lord judd: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of their commitment to a more outward-looking Global Britain, what steps they are taking to ensure that Government departments refrain from anti-internationalist rhetoric.

lord young of cookham: As the Prime Minister said to the UN General Assembly, the United Kingdom has always been an outward-facing, global partner at the heart of international efforts to secure peace and prosperity for all. She also pledged that the UK will be a confident, strong and dependable partner internationally – true to the UN's universal values. Both the rhetoric, but also the policy at the heart of this government's approach, make it clear that our posture must be internationalist as we build a new, deep and special partnership with our European neighbours and seek to strengthen our global role and relations. This sets a clear tone for all Government departments' approach.

*No heading*

lord hennessy of nympsfield: Her Majesty's Government whether there has been any review of the lessons learnt from the Iraq Inquiry; and if so, when they intend to publish that review.

lord young of cookham: The Government has received the report of Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Iraq Inquiry, and will be responding in due course, setting out the lessons learned.

*No heading*

lord jopling: Her Majesty's Government how many representatives of Kensington and Chelsea Council have attended courses at the Cabinet Office Emergency Planning College at Easingwood in the last ten years; and for each course attended, to provide, (1) the name of the course, (2) a brief summary of advice given on preparedness for major civil or natural emergences and, (3) the number of Kensington and Chelsea representatives attending the course.

lord young of cookham: Between January 2007 and June 2017 a total of twelve (12) representatives of Kensington and Chelsea Council attended courses at, or run by the Cabinet Office Emergency Planning College.Of those twelve, ten attended courses relating to the specifics of crowd and public safety management, one attended a course on crisis management in schools and colleges, and one attended a wide-ranging professional development seminar titled ‘reflections on resilience’.The table below disaggregates overall course attendance by course name and date:Course DateNumber of Delegates per event Total Delegates per course Temporary Demountable Structures (TDS)8th Feb 201611Working in Safety Advisory Groups (SAG)2nd April 20141221st May 20121Crowd Modelling, Management and Movement and Crowd Dynamics10th March 2014124th March 20131Local Authority Event Organisers Group (LAEOG) Event9th October 201233Seminar - Reflections on Resilience04th Dec 201211Introduction to Crowd and Public Safety Management22nd Feb 201211Public Safety at Festivals and Mass Gatherings28th Nov 201111Crisis Management in Schools and Colleges21st Nov 200711 The table below provides a brief summary of the content of each course that representatives of Kensington and Chelsea Council attended between 2007-2017.Course Summary of course contentTemporary Demountable Structures (TDS)The principal guidance and legislation applying to TDS; risk control in the design, erection and use phases; safety considerations in TDS procurement; the impact of external factors such as site conditions and weather on TDS safety; identification of good practice and lessons from events and incident case studies.Working in Safety Advisory Groups (SAG)Determination of appropriate terms of reference for SAGs; the roles of members of the SAG; application of the legislation and guidance on licensing and safety certification; application of relevant guidance to determine safe capacities and practices for a range of venues and events.Crowd Modelling, Management and Movement, and Crowd DynamicsPrincipal guidelines, legislation and regulations for safety and contingency planning for crowds at venues and events; differentiating crowd management and crowd control; the phases and nature of crowds and their psychology; calculation of for flow rates and density for people in crowded places; management of potential crowd behaviours in emergency situations.Local Authority Event Organisers Group (LAEOG) EventA two day professional development event that focused on the composition and conduct of Safety Advisory Groups, understanding crowd behaviour and guidelines for emergency planning.Seminar - Reflections on ResilienceA one day professional development event that covered: 'Resilience in an Age of Austerity'; ‘The Olympic Spirit - lessons for the resilient practitioner'; 'Interoperability' and 'Health -Threats to lasting resilience'.Introduction to Crowd and Public Safety ManagementA foundation course which introduces the subject of risk management, systematic approaches to the planning process, communications, crowd dynamics and crowd behaviours.Public Safety at Festivals and Mass GatheringsSite risk assessment, evaluation of safety features of an event proposal and the benefits of multi-agency co-operation in the planning for event.Crisis Management in Schools and CollegesA course for education managers who are responsible for planning and and managing the consequences of crisis and emergencies affecting schools, their staff and students, which enables them to meaningfully evaluate their organisation's state of preparedness.

*No heading*

viscount waverley: Her Majesty's Government which companies are currently contracted to provide outsourced services by each Government department and to state, for each company listed, (1) the country in which the company, or any relevant parent company, is registered and, (2) the renewal date for any contract through which they are engaged.

lord young of cookham: Full information on which companies are currently contracted to provide outsourced services to each Government department is not held centrally.However, a list of those suppliers that departments may engage through the Crown Commercial Service’s range of frameworks can be found at:http://ccs-agreements.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/suppliersSince January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archiveThose published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

*No heading*

baroness taylor of bolton: Her Majesty's Government how many deaths have occurred as a result of ectopic pregnancies in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS regions in England.

lord young of cookham: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply and will place a copy of their letter in the house library.



UKSA response to HL711
(PDF Document, 75.18 KB)

*No heading*

lord teverson: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to give UK citizens living abroad the right to vote in UK elections beyond the current 15 year time limit.

lord young of cookham: As outlined in our manifesto, the Government is committed to legislating to scrap the 15-year rule and will do so in time for the next scheduled general election in 2022.

*No heading*

lord scriven: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 11 July (HL 291), why changing the system of courtesy titles for (1) the spouses of women members, and (2) the same sex spouses and civil partners of members, of the House of Lords is not a priority for the current parliamentary session.

lord young of cookham: The Government does take the issue of inherent inequalities seriously, however, the Government’s priorities for the coming Parliamentary session were set out in The Queen’s Speech.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

*No heading*

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DDCMS) review relating to the funding of S4C; for how long the funding commitment will remain frozen; whether any agreement has been reached on the proposed reduction of the DDCMS funding; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that proposed reduction on S4C's financial position.

lord ashton of hyde: The department will conduct a review of S4C funding requirements for 2017/18 before the second half of the financial year begins.

*No heading*

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government whether they propose to nominate new members to the S4C authority to fill current and impending vacancies.

lord ashton of hyde: We intend to make appointments to the board of the S4C Authority later this year. Appointments will be made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, and will be regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

*No heading*

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the approach made by S4C forits remit to be broadened to enableit to extendits activities on digital media platforms.

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the approach made by S4C forits remit to be broadened to enableit to extendits activities on digital media platforms.

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish a new funding formula for S4C.

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish a new funding formula for S4C.

lord ashton of hyde: As set out in the Welsh Conservatives manifesto, the government remains committed to carrying out a review of S4C's remit, governance and funding in 2017. We will announce more details in due course

Department of Health

S4C

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total cost to the NHS of insurance premiums for clinical negligence; which Foundation Trust pays the highest amount as a percentage of its budget; and what percentage of its budget that cost represents.

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish a new funding formula for S4C.

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the approach made by S4C forits remit to be broadened to enableit to extendits activities on digital media platforms.

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish a new funding formula for S4C.

lord ashton of hyde: As set out in the Welsh Conservatives manifesto, the government remains committed to carrying out a review of S4C's remit, governance and funding in 2017. We will announce more details in due course

*No heading*

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce in England legislation analogous to the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016 to make provision for safe nurse staffing levels in hospitals in England.

lord o'shaughnessy: Appropriate staffing levels are already a core element of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) registration regime underpinned by legislation. All providers of regulated activities must be registered with the CQC and meet the registration requirements. The 16 safety and quality requirements set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 include a requirement for the deployment of sufficient numbers of suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced persons. In July 2016, the National Quality Board published Supporting NHS providers to deliver the right staff, with the right skills, in the right place at the right time: Safe, sustainable and productive staffing. This safe staffing improvement resource provides an updated set of expectations for nursing and midwifery care staffing, to help National Health Service provider boards make local decisions that will support the delivery of high quality care for patients within the available staffing resource. A copy of Supporting NHS providers to deliver the right staff, with the right skills, in the right place at the right time: Safe, sustainable and productive staffing is attached. We now have 13,100 more nurses on our wards than in 2010.



Supporting NHS providers guidance
(PDF Document, 424.8 KB)

*No heading*

lord black of brentwood: Her Majesty's Government how many hospital admissions for acute anxiety have been recorded in each ofthe last five years for which figures are available.

lord o'shaughnessy: The following table shows the number of finished admission episodes (FAEs) with a primary diagnosis of acute anxiety from 2011/12 to 2015/16. YearSum of FAEs2011-128,6622012-138,6802013-149,2932014-159,8742015-1610,199Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital A FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider.FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes.Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period.

*No heading*

lord black of brentwood: Her Majesty's Government how many diagnoses of HIV were made as a result of the admission of a patient to a hospital accident and emergency department in each ofthe last five for which figures are available.

lord o'shaughnessy: It is not possible to identify HIV in the Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) accident and emergency (A&E) Diagnosis scheme. A table showing unpublished data collected through the HIV and AIDS Reporting System with Public Health England, is attached due to the size of the data.



HIV diagnoses in A&E 2011-15
(Word Document, 16.07 KB)

*No heading*

lord campbell-savours: Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing for persons whose condition has been described as foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

lord o'shaughnessy: It is recognised that Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) can have a significant impact on the early development of children, their behaviours and their life chances. Early intervention services can help reduce some of the effects of FASD and prevent some of the secondary disabilities that result. Responsibility for commissioning these services lies with clinical commissioning groups. The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines provide the public with the most up to date scientific information to help people make informed decisions about their own drinking. The guideline for women who are pregnant or think they could become pregnant, is that the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to reduce risks to the baby to a minimum.

*No heading*

lord pendry: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the statement in the Queen's Speech that they will ensure that mental health is prioritised in the National Health Service, what steps they are taking to (1) end health inequalities faced by people with severe mental illness, and (2) ensure that those people have the same life expectancy as the rest of the population.

lord o'shaughnessy: This Government was the first to introduce waiting time targets for mental health, has increased funding to £11.6 billion and committed to increasing access to 1 million more people by 2020/21. Public Health England (PHE) is taking action to reduce premature mortality for people with serious mental illness. PHE has responsibility for Recommendation 20 in the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, which focuses on ensuring that people with mental health problems who are at greater risk of poor physical health get access to prevention and screening programmes. This includes primary and secondary prevention through screening and NHS Health Checks, as well as interventions for physical activity, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and access to ‘stop smoking’ services.

*No heading*

lord pendry: Her Majesty's Government how they intend to address findings from the Health Foundation that in the past three years the NHS has failed to meet its target for ambulance response times for those 999 calls where there is an immediate threat to life.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Secretary of State for Health announced the publication of the University of Sheffield Report on the Ambulance Response Programme and subsequent recommendations by Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England’s National Medical Director, on 13 July 2017. The report evaluates a series of pilots intended to support ambulance services in England to maintain and improve clinical outcomes for patients in the face of unprecedented increases in demand. Based on the extensive evidence base detailed in the report, NHS England will put in place a new framework of ambulance performance standards and related operational changes that are focused on patients’ clinical needs and will help the service to operate more efficiently. One of the key consquences of the changes is that the ambulance services in England will be able to more consistently and sustainabily be able to provide rapid responds to calls where there is an immediate threat to life. NHS England will now implement the Ambulance Response Programme recommendations in all ambulance services in the England so that patients across the country will benefit from the improvements seen in the pilot ambulance services.

*No heading*

lord pendry: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation from the charity Rethink Mental Illness in their Manifesto 2017,that Her Majesty’s Government should appoint a cabinet level ministerial post for mental health with responsibility for ensuring a cross-Government plan to address mental inequalities.

lord o'shaughnessy: Improving mental health in England is a priority for this Government and my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State, who is part of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, is committed to ensuring the transformation of mental health through delivery of the mental health commitments in the Five Year Forward View. This includes addressing mental health inequalities. To ensure the delivery of this transformation programme a robust governance structure has been put in place, which includes ministers across Whitehall.

*No heading*

baroness randerson: Her Majesty's Government how much was spent by the NHS on commissioning treatments for hepatitis C in the financial year 2016–17.

lord o'shaughnessy: The hepatitis C drug treatment bill for 2016-17 was in excess of £200 million.

*No heading*

lord pendry: Her Majesty's Government whether they are planning to widen access to specialist care for the 2,500 young people each year who are diagnosed with cancer, in the light of the estimate by the Teenage Cancer Trust that only half those people are currently in receipt of such services.

lord o'shaughnessy: NHS England, through its Specialised Commissioning team, commissions cancer services for children, teenagers and young people (0-24) on the basis of service specifications. The requirements in the service specification should be delivered by providers to all patients. The service specification outlines the role of different organisations and multidisciplinary teams as follows: - Patients aged 16 to 18 years should be admitted to a Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Principal Treatment Centre which should provide age appropriate facilities;- Patients aged 19 to 24 years should be offered a choice of access to a TYA Principal Treatment Centre with unhindered access to age- appropriate facilities; or- A hospital designated to provide care for young adults within its adult cancer services.

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Medicines Agency.

lord o'shaughnessy: We recognise the important role that the European Medicines Agency plays in the protection of human and animal health. In the negotiations, the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines regulation in the best interests of both the United Kingdom and the EU. As my Rt. hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Health and Business said in their 4 July letter in the Financial Times, the UK is fully committed to continuing the close working relationship with our European partners. Our aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and sharing of data. I underlined this message, in particular the value the UK places on ongoing co-operation, at the BioIndustry Association and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency conference on 14 July.